Alyssa gripped the steering wheel with a confident hand, exuding an effortless coolness as she sped through the city streets. The pulsating beats of her favorite revenge anthem, “Burning Revenge,” surged through the car, a fitting soundtrack for her chaotic emotions. She wasn’t the least bit concerned about Jasper discovering who she really was. No, what baffled her was the perplexing silence he had maintained for three long years. Why now, of all times, did he suddenly seem curious about her? After their marriage crumbled, only then did he dare to rear his head. Typical men—always taking love for granted, only to chase after it like a dog after a bone once it was gone. Furrowing her brow, Alyssa glanced in the rearview mirror and felt her heart race. Jasper’s sleek Lamborghini was hot on her tail, and she couldn't help the smirk that crept across her lips. “Oh, so you want to play a game of chase?” She pressed down hard on the accelerator, her Bugatti responding like a wild stallion. With a graceful drift to the left, she vanished from his sight, leaving nothing but a blur in her wake. “Quick! Stay on her!” Jasper barked from the passenger seat, urgency tainting his voice. Xavier, at the wheel, had never driven so fast, his heart pounding with adrenaline and trepidation alike. The two men finally closed the distance, and Jasper's expression remained steely, though inwardly he was relieved. “Mr. Jasper, Madam Alice’s driving skills are truly astounding! That sticker isn’t just for show...” Xavier gushed, his admiration spilling over. “Sticker?” Jasper’s brow furrowed as he attempted to decipher Xavier’s enthusiasm. “Look at Madam Alice’s car!” Jasper's gaze followed, landing on a peculiar white sticker of the Initial C logo emblazoned on the rear of Alyssa’s vehicle. “You don’t say! Madam Alice loves animated films, especially Initial C—it’s all about race cars. I often saw her glued to the screen in the living room,” Xavier continued, practically bubbling with excitement. “Who would’ve thought she was such a daredevil? I always thought she was fragile, incapable of fending for herself.” Jasper’s irritation only grew. How had he been so blind to the woman he had married? The fact his secretary knew more about her passions than he did felt like a slap to the face. “Oh no! Madam Alice is accelerating!” Xavier’s voice cracked as they struggled to keep up. “Chase her down! I swear, if you don’t, I’ll cut your pay!” Jasper gritted his teeth, his jaw set as a sculpted monument of frustration. Xavier’s mind raced with fear of both his job and the reckless abandon of their pursuit. Yet, as they watched, Alyssa executed two flawless drifts, and just like that, she vanished from their view, her taillights swallowed by the night. “I... I’ve lost her...” Xavier’s voice was deflated, disappointment crashing over him like a tidal wave. Jasper slammed his fist against the car window, veins throbbing on his forehead as raw frustration fueled his thoughts. “Alice White, why do you continue to hide from me? What lies behind your facade?” Later that night, Jonah and Silas arrived at Alyssa’s quaint villa, their spirits buoyed as they took over the spacious kitchen. The rich aromas of sizzling dishes blended with laughter as Alyssa lounged on the couch, her eyes glued to her phone, pop music playing in the background. Occasionally she would glance over, indulging in the sight of her brothers—cooking like culinary wizards. “Double kill!” she cheered, clapping joyfully at her gaming achievement. “Lyse, you’re still the best,” Silas beamed, the gentlest of the brothers, his smile like a warm embrace. “Check it out! This character is a legendary butcher, he packs a punch!” Alyssa knelt on the couch, her arms resting on the coffee table, the lollipop sticking out of her mouth, giving her an adorably mischievous look. “Confident, are you? Let’s have a rematch tomorrow, and I’ll show you who’s boss,” Jonah teased while slicing a tender steak, feeding her a piece. “Damn it! Axel bailed in the last round! We could’ve won!” Alyssa protested, determination flashing in her eyes. “Dinner’s almost ready. You’re allergic to smoke, Lyse. Go wait in the living room,” Jonah said kindly. Suddenly, a pang of sadness shot through Alyssa. Her brothers had no idea she had spent three years toiling in a kitchen, battling her smoke allergy while cooking for the Becketts. It had hardened her, toughened her hands, and despite the burning oil and swirling smoke, she’d managed to conceal it all. Telling them would only spark their ire, especially Jonah, who might lash out against Jasper without a second thought. Once a princess of the Taylor family, she had never been subjected to such indignities—it was infuriating. But now, she relished her freedom and vowed never again to stoop so low for a man who didn’t deserve her time. In that moment, Jonah’s phone buzzed, sending a ripple of anxiety crashing through the kitchen. He wiped his hands on his apron and glanced at Alyssa, his expression shifting to something more serious. “It’s your ex-husband,” he stated, hesitation lingering in the air. Alyssa’s blood boiled, heat rising in her cheeks. “Is he seriously still calling you?” Her lollipop clattered to the table as her fury intensified. Jonah raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on? Has he been hitting you up?” “Thinks you’re Lyse’s boyfriend after that run-in at the lake,” Silas said, leaning against the counter, plucking her abandoned lollipop and popping it into his mouth. “He might think that, sure,” Jonah chuckled, his voice casual. “He just needs to get his eyes checked—he’d realize you look more like a father figure than a boyfriend.” Laughter erupted among the brothers, but Alyssa felt a storm brewing inside her. “Should I pick it up?” Jonah asked sheepishly. “Absolutely not!” she commanded, her voice firm. “Come on, pick it up!” Reluctantly, Jonah pressed the call button, the phone crackling to life. “I’m looking for my wife.” Jasper's voice rang out, cool and composed, a hint of possessiveness creeping in. “Are you kidding me?” Silas shot up, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, but Alyssa swiftly pushed him down, silencing him with a firm yet gentle grip. “Mr. Beckett, Alice is no longer your wife. You’re divorced,” Jonah reminded him, adjusting the terms to keep Alyssa’s identity hidden. “She knows she’s still my wife,” Jasper shot back, his voice icy. “Jasper Beckett, you chased me down and threatened me. What do you even want?” Alyssa interjected, her irritation unbearable, and abruptly switched to the speakerphone. “I need to speak to you privately,” he replied, his tone dropping, suffused with an uneasy seriousness. With a heavy heart, Alyssa stepped into a vacant room, shut the door behind her, and took a calming breath before dialing back in. “What?” she snapped, unwilling to let him see her vulnerability. “Why did you change your phone number?” Jasper’s tone remained as cold as a winter’s night. “Because I want a fresh start—an escape from the past,” Alyssa replied, her resolve solid. “Grandpa needs to reach you,” he pushed, making it sound almost like an obligation for her to surrender her new number. “Get in line. It's easy to find me. Just contact Mr. Taylor.” Alyssa’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Alice White, is this your way of plotting revenge?” he ground out through clenched teeth. “So you’ve moved in with Jonah, huh? You’re calling yourself Alice White now? What will you have him call you?” “Jasper Beckett!” Fury radiated from her, her fist clenched tight. “Don’t be naive, Alice. You really think I care about who you’re with?” A hollow laugh escaped him, but his words cut deeper. “Don’t disappoint Grandpa. I hope you’ll have the decency to keep up appearances at the banquet—even if you don’t regard your dignity, at least don't embarrass him.” Alyssa’s heart raced, anger rendering her speechless. With a final decision, she severed the call, leaning against the wall, her breath coming in jagged bursts. The pain he inflicted was like an open wound, refusing to heal. Why did she still care? Hadn't she promised herself that he was no longer a part of her life? Hot tears brimmed in her eyes as she whispered, “Jasper Beckett, how could you treat me like this? Thirteen years of love, and it all turned out to be a cruel mistake...”